dragonfly | insect | Britannica.com Dragonfly Alternative Titles: Anisoptera, darner, darning needle, devil’s arrow, devil’s darning needle Related Topics insect Dragonfly (suborder Anisoptera), also called darner, devil’s arrow, or devil’s darning needle, any of a group of roughly 3,000 species of aerial predatory insects most commonly found near freshwater habitats throughout most of the world. Damselflies (suborder Zygoptera) are sometimes also called dragonflies in that both are odonates (order Odonata ). Dragonfly (Libellula forensis). E.S. Ross Distinguishing characteristics and flight behaviour Dragonfly species (Anisoptera) are characterized by long bodies with two narrow pairs of intricately veined, membranous wings that, while generally transparent, may have coloured markings. Unlike damselflies, the front and rear wing pairs are shaped differently. In addition, dragonflies rest with their wings spread horizontally, rather than held vertically against each other (with the exception of one very small family, Epiophlebiidae). Dragonflies have a more powerful build and are generally much stronger fliers than damselflies.

The globe skimmer (or wandering glider, Pantala flavescens), a migratory dragonfly, for example, makes an annual multigenerational journey of some 18,000 km (about 11,200 miles); to complete the migration , individual globe skimmers fly more than 6,000 km (3,730 miles)—one of the farthest known migrations of all insect species. Dragonflies also have huge bulging eyes that occupy most of the head, giving some a field of vision approaching 360 degrees. Swift long-winged skimmer (Pachydiplax longipennis). © Index Open The winged adults are diversely coloured in a variety of shades ranging from metallic to pastel. Compared with other insects, they are large, with some having wingspans of up to 16 cm (about 6 inches). Even the smallest species are about 20 mm (0.8 inch) across. As well as being extremely agile fliers, they are also among the fastest insects.

Dragonfly wing muscles must be warm to function optimally, and so, if cool, the insect often engages in wing-whirring and basking in the sun to generate heat before taking flight. The dragonfly’s speed and agility contribute to its being one of the most effective aerial predators. Small flying insects are the usual fare, but some dragonflies regularly consume prey that is 60 percent of their own weight. Life cycle and reproduction damselfly Young dragonflies, called larvae or sometimes nymphs or naiads, are aquatic and are as dedicated predators under water as the adults are in the air. The functionally wingless larvae are usually mottled or dull in colour, matching the sediments or water plants among which they live. They have bulging eyes somewhat similar to the adults, but possess a formidable anatomical structure not present in the adult. Called the “mask,” it is a fusion of the larva’s third pair of mouthparts. Disproportionately large, the mask folds beneath both the head and thorax when it is not in use. At the end of the mask is a set of fanglike pincers used to seize prey such as worms, crustaceans, tadpoles, and small fish .

Different species of dragonfly larvae can be described as sprawlers, burrowers, hiders, or claspers. Their shape, metabolism, and respiration differ concordantly with the microhabitat they occupy. A dragonfly larva captures a fish by extending its labial mask. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Slow-motion animation demonstrates how a dragonfly larva extends its labial mask to capture prey. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Larvae crawl from eggs laid in or near water. Some species lay their eggs inside plant tissue, others attach their eggs to substrates at or above the water’s surface, and some may drop or wash their eggs from their abdomen onto water. Larvae absorb oxygen from the water using gills inside the rectum . The abdomen draws water in and pumps it out again through the anus. Water can be forcibly expelled in this way, resulting in jet propulsion as a means of escape. Solid waste is also expelled in this manner. As the larva grows, it molts, its future wings first becoming apparent about halfway through the larva’s development. These wing sheaths then enlarge rapidly with each successive molt.

Eventually, the larva crawls out of the water (often at night) and molts one last time, emerging as an adult and leaving behind a cast skin (exuvia). Britannica Stories Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent Dragonflies, like damselflies, exhibit a mating posture unique to the Odonata. The male and female contort themselves into the “wheel” position before sperm is transferred. Before and after mating, dragonflies often fly in tandem, with the male towing the female in flight using claspers at the tip of his abdomen to grip the back of her head. Pairs of some species may remain in tandem while the female lays her eggs. Descriptive names Ultimate Animals Quiz Many dragonfly families have descriptive common names associated with their scientific names. Examples include the hawkers (Aeshnidae), petaltails (Petaluridae), and clubtails (Gomphidae). Numerous other names related to neither taxonomy nor fact have traditionally been applied to dragonflies, such as horse stinger. Dragonflies have also been known as “snake doctors” in the American South, owing to the superstition that they nurse ill snakes back to health.

The term devil’s darning needle is derived from a superstition that dragonflies may sew up the eyes, ears, or mouth of a sleeping child, especially one who has misbehaved. In reality, dragonflies present no danger to humans. Widow skimmer (Libellula luctuosa). Devil's darning needle - definition of devil's darning needle by The Free Dictionary Devil's darning needle - definition of devil's darning needle by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Thesaurus , Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . devil's darning needle (Animals) a popular name for a dragonfly ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: Noun 1. devil's darning needle - common climber of eastern North America that sprawls over other plants and bears numerous panicles of small creamy white flowers clematis - any of various ornamental climbing plants of the genus Clematis usually having showy flowers 2. devil's darning needle - slender-bodied non-stinging insect having iridescent wings that are outspread at rest; adults and nymphs feed on mosquitoes etc. Do Dragonflies Bite? This Article Will Let You Know!

Order: Odonata Suborder: Anisoptera Insects are actually arthropods that belong to the Insecta class. The adult stage of an insect is characterized by a segmented body of three parts, namely the head, abdomen and thorax. They also possess a hard exoskeleton and 6 joined legs. This group in the animal kingdom has the numerous and most diverse class of species that is categorized into wasps, lice, ants, praying mantis, grasshoppers, dragonflies, true bugs, fleas, flies, bees, butterflies, beetles and moths. The total species are counted to be around 6 to 10 million, and out of it, only 1 million species have been described till now. Insects account for more than 50% of the known living beings present on the earth and represents around 90% of the diverse life forms on this planet. Hence the insects in human surroundings are unavoidable. The diversity in the species is also seen in their biting or stinging nature. Some insect bites or stings can be severe, whereas some may be barely felt, while some can also turn life threatening and poisonous. Many people confuse between an insect sting and bite.

They use these two terms interchangeably. An insect bite is caused from its mouthparts, when it tries to feed or defend itself to escape from the clutches of human hands. The bites of fleas, bed bugs, mosquitoes and mites cause more itching instead of pain, whereas there are many insect bites with stings that cause severe pain. The stinging is caused when the insect has a stinging organ or apparatus of defense or offense, especially when linked with a venom gland. This stinging organ has the ability to pierce into the skin and create a wound, similar to the sting created by a scorpion. This organ is usually located at the posterior side of the insect. The insects with a stinger that creates sting with a bite are bees, hornets, scorpions and wasps.

Dragonfly 1: Clypeus, 2: Antenna, 3,4 Frons, 5: Labrum, 6: Claw, 7: Tarsus 8: Tibia, 9: Spines, 10: Femur, 11: Coxa, 12: Sutures, 13: Thorax, 14: Abdomen, 15: Appendages (claspers), 16: Anal loop, 17: Triangles, 18: Rear wing, 19: Front wing, 20: Pterostigma, 21: Postnodal cross-veins, 22 : Node, 23: Antenodal cross-veins, 24: Arculus, 27: Prothorax, 28: Labium, 29: Mandibles, 30: Compound eye A dragonfly is a flying insect with long and slender body, very transparent and strong wings, brilliant colors, spectacular flying ability and a unique behavior. It belongs to the Odonata Order, and hence, also referred as Odonate.

This word ï¿½Odonateï¿½ is derived from the Greek word that has the meaning ï¿½toothï¿½. It is because; this creature has a strong mouth part for catching and chewing the prey, known as mandibles. It is a most common insect found in the surroundings and have metallic or iridescent colors that make them conspicuous during the flight. Biting Dragonflies do not have teeth, but the mandibles help them to bite and chew. This method is used for feeding on insects. Though the dragonflies look so fragile and small, they are considered as voracious eaters and brutal killers because; they will eat any animal that can be caught by their mandibles. Usually this mandibles rest under their body when idle, but thrust out soon as they see any insect passing by. Similarly, they do bite the human beings, but only if they feel threatened. If you pick a dragonfly and hold it in your hand in a careless way, such that its mouth part is near to your skin, then there are chances of biting. But most of the species of dragonfly are not capable of causing an injury or breaking the surface of the skin.

Very rare and large species may create injury by biting and sometimes may cause some pain. But none of these species are considered poisonous. Even the biting tendency is actually created when we try to provoke them or harm them, otherwise they do not spontaneously bite human beings as soon as they see us. It can be considered as a natural tendency of a living thing to self defense when exposed to potential threats. Hence this behavior can be justified, and the dragonflies cannot be considered as a biting or harmful insect. Unique Behavior These dragonflies seem to be very curious in nature, and are sometimes seen hovering around us. It creates a wrong impression, as if it is inspecting someone. Though they do not trouble or harm anybody, they are still considered as a menace creature due to this behavior. Stinging The Dragonflies do not sting. Their ferocious appearance frightens many people, and they consider this dragonfly to be a harmful creature. But in reality, the dragonflies are harmless insects that do not attack human beings, and is often misunderstood by the people. It has a slender and elongated shaped abdomen, and at the end part, there is a clasping organ that looks like a stinging organ.

Other than that, when you hold this creature, it curves the long tail part situated near the abdomen, giving the impression that it is ready to sting your skin, which adds to the already present misconception. But actually, it is just the reverse reaction of holding them. It cannot sting, as they do not possess stingers. Myths The dragonflies have been related to many myths in several countries that have led to many nicknames to this creature. The legends and superstitions related to this creature are different in different countries in the world. In many cultures, dragonflies are considered both as a symbol of good as well as the devil. Some of the nicknames are ï¿½Devilï¿½s Darning Needleï¿½, Eye Pokers, Snake Doctor, ï¿½Horse-Stingersï¿½, Eye Snatchers and Water Witch. They may have got the name ï¿½Horse Stingerï¿½ by a misunderstanding that the dragonflies hover around the horses and in return, the horses were stamping and kicking as if bitten by the dragonflies. But in reality, the dragonflies may be helping the horse by eating the parasites and small insects on the horseback that were actually harassing them.

The other name ï¿½Devilï¿½s Darning Needleï¿½ is again evolved from a superstition or a myth that the dragonflies would come to sew the lips, eyes and ears together of the children who lie or the adults who scold or curse. Recent development in science and research proved that these superstitions are wrong. Now, people know that those unnerving myths were mere misunderstandings, evolved due to ignorance. In those times, when these myths were believed, the native people were mostly uneducated and ignorant, and the horrible appearance of the dragonflies did little to assuage their impressions. Their look was so horrific that the people assumed they could bite and sting. The possibility is that the old legends and myths were actually made to prevent people from touching or getting near the dragonflies. Anyways, the fact is the dragonflies do not bite, sting or cause any harm to human beings. But still, take extreme care while handling them, and if at all they bite, it can be considered as a natural tendency of a living creature to react defensively. Our articles are free for you to copy and distribute. Make sure to give credit for the article.

Dragonflies and Damselflies | Iowa Insect Information Notes Iowa Insect Information Notes Dragonflies and Damselflies Dragonflies and Damselflies Who isn’t familiar with dragonflies, one of the most charming insects of summer? The graceful flight of dragonflies along a lake, stream or pond is one of summer’ best shows and the bright colors of the long, slender body and the sparkling cellophane transparency of the wings make them a favorite of jewelry makers and artists. Dragonflies are also a favorite for insect collections but collectors are more often than not frustrated because dragonflies can be as elusive as they are beautiful. Several nicknames and myths surround these insects. The nickname “devil’s darning needle” has been applied to some of the larger species who are alleged to stitch shut the eyes or ears of children as they sleep. The nickname “horse stinger” is without merit since these harmless insects can not sting or bite. The nickname “mosquito hawk” however, is accurate as the dragonflies consume large quantities of mosquitoes and other small flying insects during their tireless flights. Dragons and Damsels Dragonflies are accompanied in the air space near water by their close relatives called damselflies.

The two groups have many similarities such as long slender bodies, elongate, membranous wings with a crowded network of veins, and large heads composed almost entirely of multifaceted, compound eyes, but they are easily distinguished from each other. Damselflies are smaller and more delicate looking than dragonflies and when damselflies rest they hold their wings straight up and together above the body. Dragonflies, on the other hand, rest with their wings held horizontally. If these insects appear somewhat primitive, it’s because they are. Dragonflies have remained unchanged, with one possible exception, for over 250 million years according to fossil records. While our largest dragonflies are about 3 inches in length with wingspans of up to 7 inches, some early dragonflies had a wingspread of 27 inches. Dragonflies evolved long before the time of the dinosaurs and may have been the first insects and even the first animals to fly. Life in the Water Dragonflies and damselflies are aquatic insects that spend most of their life in the water. Unlike butterflies and beetles, dragonflies and damselflies have a simple life cycle of three stages –– egg, nymph and adult. The adults lay eggs on or near the water.

The eggs hatch after three to five weeks into nymphs called naiads. The naiads live more or less buried in the mud or attached to submerged plants for several months or up to as long as three years. Naiads only vaguely resemble the appearance of the adults. Naiads have the long slender body, six legs and large heads, but without wings they may be difficult to recognize. A noticeable feature of the naiads is the large, well–developed mouthparts hinged to the lower side of the head. Nymphs feed on small aquatic animals such as other insects, worms, tadpoles and even small fish by lying in wait and snatching prey as it swims or crawls by. The elongated lower lip very quickly shoots out and the prey is snared with two movable clawlike hooks. When the lip is withdrawn the captured morsel is chewed up in mandibles at the base of the lip. When the naiads are fully grown they crawl out of the water on the stem of an aquatic plant. The adult emerges from the naiad skin and begins the half–hour long process of expanding the wings to their full size before flying off to find a mate.

Adult dragonflies and damselflies are aggressive predators. Adults flying in a pattern back and forth over the water or darting in a zig–zag fashion above your lawn are literally scooping mosquitoes, gnats, winged ants and other small insects from the air using their spiny front legs that are held like a basket just under the mouth. On the average, an adult dragonfly may live up to six weeks while damselflies have an adult life of three or four weeks. During that span, mating, a commonly observed behavior of dragonflies and damselflies must occur before the female can lay fertile eggs to start the life cycle over. Most dragonflies and many damselflies mate on the wing, spending considerable time flying “in tandem.” The male clasps the female by the back of her head using special appendages at the end of his abdomen. Prior to clasping the female the male transfers a packet of sperm from the tip of his abdomen to a storage sack on the bottom of the abdomen just behind the legs. The actual act of copulation occurs when the female bends her body forward and connects to the underside of the male’s abdomen for purpose of transferring the sperm.

Some dragonflies and damselflies remain in this position for several days to ensure successful fertilization. Dragonflies and damselflies do no harm to people, pets, crops, landscape plants or houses. They are entirely beneficial, first as a vital part of the aquatic food chain, and second as predators of mosquitoes and other pests. Live and let live. Sit back and enjoy the show. sewing needles (odonate) - Memidex dictionary/thesaurus en​.wikipedia​.org​/wiki​/Dragonfly Dragonfly (disambiguation) a flying insect of the order Odonata. Dragonfly may also refer to: Boeing X-50 Dragonfly, an unmanned aerial surveillance vehicle designed by the U.S. military | Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, a US attack aircraft | DF Helicopters DF334 (Dragon Fly 334), an ...

(39 of 561 words, 55 definitions) The Home Bug Garden: Deluges & Devil's Darning Needles Deluges & Devil's Darning Needles Bee-dazzled, not; be-puddled instead "Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud, Turn forth her silver lining on the night?" Perhaps John Milton (1634) had a better relationship with clouds than I, but for the last few days the clouds over the Home Bug Garden have been turning forth only rain and mud. Not the best of bugging weather, but it does make it easier to approach some of the larger insects, such as this black & blue beauty. Back end of a Devil's Darning Needle The largest insects to grace the Home Bug Garden are usually not natives, but transients. In particular, large dragonflies in the genus Aeshna: the Mosaic Darners. As large as small birds (about 7 cm long with a 9 cm wingspread), and every bit as agile when warm, the darners clackety swoops and hairpin turns never fail to impress, especially in the confines of a small garden.

Rather demonic looking, especially if you are a mosquito Well, maybe having a large insect zipping circles around you isn't everyone's cup of tea, especially given the stories one hears about scolds, screeching children, and the profane having their lips sown shut by the Devil's Darning Needles. If only. Alas, the rude and over-excited have nothing to fear from darners. Variable Darner, most likely, Aeschna interrupta But one just-so story does have some basis in fact. Well-intentioned biologists often make preposterous claims about their favourite organism's abilities to protect us from pests. But unlike bats and spiders, darners really are bad-news for mosquitoes. Spiny legs scoop insects out of the air and into the maw of doom During last year's horror mosquito summer, HBG and his wife had one magical half hour by the lake when about 3 dozen darners swooped in to attack. Back and forth almost faster than the eye could follow, the hovering cloud of mosquitoes disappeared as the darners scooped them out of the air and gobbled them up. Alas, they then moved on.

Darners are superb fliers and able to stray far from their natal lakes and ponds. Even an Oil Sands Beetle may prefer a cloud's illusion Well, enough of clouds for the moment, and please let the Weather Office be right in its predictions for the next few days (even if it is by chance). I'm at the point where cloud illusions is what I would prefer to recall. Posted by Differences Between a Devil's Darning Needle & a Dragonfly | Animals - mom.me Differences Between a Devil's Darning Needle & a Dragonfly Around 3,500 dragonfly species exist worldwide. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images Dragonflies are sometimes colloquially called devil's darning needles, thus no differences exist between the two as they're one and the same. Roughly 3,600 dragonfly species are found across the globe, all belonging to the taxonomic family Anisoptera. Although these species all have their own characteristics, they're also similar in certain ways. Physical Description Adult dragonflies have long, thin, needle-like bodies, which is why they're sometimes referred to as devil's darning needles.

All species have six legs, two pairs of wings, disproportionately large eyes, short thoraxes and long abdomens that are split into 10 segments. They're generally bright and colorful, although exact colors and patterns vary between species. The largest known dragonfly species has a wingspan of up to 6.3 inches, whereas the smallest has a wingspan of roughly 1.3 inches. Range and Habitat While dragonflies are found anywhere across the globe -- excluding polar regions -- the largest number of species are located in tropical areas. They live in many different areas and habitats. However, one essential factor is they must live near freshwater, as they lay their eggs in or near water and their larvae -- or nymphs -- are aquatic creatures. Depending on the species, they inhabit areas around different types of water sources, including rivers, streams, lakes, swamps, marshes and dikes. They may fly several miles away to hunt for prey, but most of their time is spent near open water. Food Habits Adult dragonflies are active hunters, meaning they chase and capture their prey, rather than waiting for it to come to them. Their six legs act as nets to help them capture their dinner.

They primarily eat flying insects, such as mosquitoes, aphids, flies, moths, bees and other dragonflies. The type of prey they go for depends on the size of the species. Dragonfly nymphs are fully aquatic and live mostly on insects that live in water. Their modified, hinged lower lips -- known as facial masks -- help them catch their prey. Reproduction and Development Breeding season for dragonflies is in spring or summer, not long after they enter their adult stage. Some species are territorial, and males will defend a prime egg-laying area, whereas other species are happy to share territories. Males and females practice internal fertilization, with males depositing their sperm into females' sperm storage organs. Females then lay their eggs either in or near the water, depending on their species. When they hatch out, baby dragonflies are known as nymphs. These nymphs are aquatic creatures with stout bodies and six legs that look quite different from their adult counterparts. Different types of dragonflies take varying amounts of time to reach adulthood -- anywhere from a few months to a few years.

Dining needle | Article about Dining needle by The Free Dictionary Dining needle | Article about Dining needle by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Dictionary , Thesaurus , Wikipedia . dragonfly, any insect insect, invertebrate animal of the class Insecta of the phylum Arthropoda. Like other arthropods, an insect has a hard outer covering, or exoskeleton, a segmented body, and jointed legs. Adult insects typically have wings and are the only flying invertebrates. ..... Click the link for more information. of the order Odonata, which also includes the damselfly. Members of this order are generally large predatory insects and characteristically have chewing mouthparts and four membranous, net-veined wings; they undergo complete metamorphosis metamorphosis [Gr.,=transformation], in zoology, term used to describe a form of development from egg to adult in which there is a series of distinct stages. Many insects, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans, and fishes undergo metamorphosis, which may involve a change in habitat, ..... Click the link for more information. . Species are found throughout the world except in the polar regions; the greatest variety occurs in the tropics.

Dragonflies, which are commonly called horse stingers and devil's darning needles, are strong fliers with elongated bodies; they rest with their wings outstretched. Some are 5 in. (12.7 cm) long. Damselflies are generally smaller, with slender, often brilliantly colored, bodies and rest with their wings folded back. The giant helicopter damselfly of tropical America has a wingspan of 7.5 in. (19 cm). Both dragonflies and damselflies lay eggs on or near water. The nymphs are aquatic and breathe by means of gills located at the end of the abdomen; the gills can also be used for propulsion through the water. The nymphs feed on insect larvae and are an important food for fish and birds. When grown, they crawl up out of the water and molt. Most species produce a single generation each year, with the nymph stage usually overwintering. Both nymphs and adults prey on mosquitoes and other insects and are harmless, indeed beneficial, to humans. Fossil remains of a form from the Permian period, with a wingspread of 2 1-2 ft (76 cm), have been found.

Modern dragonflies and damselflies are classified in the phylum Arthropoda Arthropoda [Gr.,=jointed feet], largest and most diverse animal phylum. The arthropods include crustaceans, insects, centipedes, millipedes, spiders, scorpions, and the extinct trilobites. ..... Click the link for more information. , class Insecta, order Odonata. dragonfly [′drag·ən‚flī] (invertebrate zoology) Any of the insects composing six families of the suborder Anisoptera and having four large, membranous wings and compound eyes that provide keen vision. dragonfly 1. any predatory insect of the suborder Anisoptera, having a large head and eyes, a long slender body, two pairs of iridescent wings that are outspread at rest, and aquatic larvae: order Odonata 2.

any other insect of the order Odonata Beneficial insects in the garden: #12 Damselflies Yes (mounted specimen for viewing available in insect collection at County Extension Office) The order Odonata is comprised of two subordersï¿½the Zygoptera or damselflies and the Anisoptera or dragonflies. Odonata means "toothed,ï¿½ referring to the chewing mandibles of these beneficial insects. Dragonflies and damselflies, like cockroaches, are two of the oldest insect groups. During prehistoric times, they were as big as hawks. You can find Odonate fossils from Kansas to Siberia. These fascinating creatures had wingspans of almost 30 inches and were the largest insects to ever live. Currently, there are estimated to be more than 4,700 species of Odonata worldwide and Zygoptera accounts for one-third of them. Zygoptera is native to all regions of the world, except Antarctica. The term ï¿½Zygopteraï¿½ means "paired wings." Damselflies are also commonly known as bog dancers, damsels, devilï¿½s darning needles and narrow wings.

There are four families of damselflies. Calyopterygidae are black winged (some have half black wings) with a red spot at the base. The Coeangrionidae have many body colors but always have clear wings. Lestidae, also known as ï¿½Spreadwingsï¿½, are unlike other damselflies because they perch vertically with their wings open when at rest (similar to a dragonfly). Lestidae usually have a yellow, bronze or metallic green sheen to them. The Protoneuridae are small thread-tailed damselflies inhabiting streams in far south Texas. Interestingly, the largest species in Texas is Archilestes grandis in the family Lestidae. The smallest known damselfly is the Southeast Asian species, Agriocnemis femina. Damselflies are delicate, weak-flying insects. An adult damselfly has a long slender body, which is green, blue, red, yellow, black, or brown and often brightly colored. The color of some species will change with a variety of environments, fading from bright blue to dull purple responding to cool temperatures or light.

Males of most damselfly species are brighter-colored than females. Both genders have broad, oblong heads with large, widely separated bulging eyes and very short antennae. When resting, damselflies hold its two pairs of four magnificent membranous wings vertically rather than horizontally. Damselfly adults use their hairy covered hind legs to capture prey as they fly. Once caught, they will hold the prey in their legs and devour it by chewing. Adults are usually seen during the daytime throughout the year. Damselflies are carnivorous insects that live and breed near freshwater habitats. They commonly fly in tandem during mating, as the damselfly's mating pattern is quite unusual. There are three stages in the damselfly life cycle: egg, naiad (the nymph of a damselfly) and adult. Eggs are either laid in water, on underwater vegetation, or other water-filled cavities such as in bromeliads. Eggs usually hatch within 1-to-3 weeks. Once hatched, the naiad has an elongated body, long legs and three leaf-like appendages or gills on its tail.

Damselflies live for 2 months to 3 years as nymphs, undergoing five to 15 molts as they grow. At this stage, naiads like the adults, are fierce predators. They prey on freshwater organisms, mosquito larvae, various small aquatic insects and other arthropods within their reach. At the last stage, a naiad crawls out of the water and clings to a plant, drying its skin. After a few minutes sunbathing, the outer skin splits open at the head and the adult damselfly struggles, pulling itself out of its old skin. Its new legs harden, holding onto the plant, its wings slowly expand and then the damselfly flies away from the water. At this time, it is extraordinarily hungry, ravenously eating flies, mosquitoes and other small insects. Once the adult is sexually mature, it returns to an area near water to breed. The life span of damselflies varies by species. The amount of time that the nymphs spend in the aquatic stage depends on temperature, light and food availability. As an adult, they may survive for a few weeks or for several months.

In general though, tropical species spend less time in the aquatic stage and more time in the adult stage than temperate species. Damselflies are extremely beautiful, beneficial predators because they help control populations of harmful insects. Adults consume large quantities of other insects such as flies, mosquitoes and moths and some eat beetles and caterpillars. One way to conserve them is by avoiding indiscriminate use of pesticides. Damselflies are also a very important group of insects in stream and pond ecosystems. They are often used as an indicator of whether water is clean or polluted. The quality of the environment can be monitored by damselflies as their presence is strongly affected by different factors such as water flow, pollution and vegetation. The destruction and alteration of freshwater habitats are the greatest threats to damselfly species worldwide. Without clean water damselflies are unable to breed. An alteration of habitats through climate change may also pose a threat to damselfly populations in the future. Lastly, contrary to popular belief, adult damselflies do not bite or sting. Beneficials in the Garden & Landscape is an Earth-KindTM program coordinated through Extension Horticulture at Texas A&M University.

Earth-Kind uses research-proven techniques to provide maximum gardening and landscape enjoyment while preserving and protecting our environment. This web site is maintained by Master Gardener Laura Bellmore, under the direction of William M. Johnson, Ph.D., County Extension Agent-Horticulture & Master Gardener Program Coordinator. All digital photographs are the property of the Galveston County Master Gardener Association, Inc. (GCMGA) 2002-2015 GCMGA - All Rights Reserved. Devil’s Darning Needle « Writing for Nature Jun3 Of all insects there are few that capture our attention and interest the way dragonflies do. They have, perhaps, the coolest, most evocative name of any group of insects: Dragonfly. In English there are a great number of other common categorical names: Devil’s Darning Needle, Snake Doctor, and Ear Cutter among others. Many of these names come from the mystifying apparent fear of nature that crops up over and over in European views of the world. Many European cultures viewed dragonflies as sinister creatures, servants of the devil, in league with other evils such as snakes and bats.

Other cultures, often more agrarian ones, had a far more benign view of dragonflies, based, perhaps, on the recognition of their fundamental role in controlling populations of pest insects of all sorts. An archaic name for the Japanese Islands is Akitsushima (秋津島), the Dragonfly Islands, where dragonflies symbolized courage, strength, and happiness. For some native American tribes dragonflies symbolized clean, pure water, swiftness, and agility. In the modern world dragonflies are good indicators of environmental heath, indicating a robustly functioning ecosystem. Libellula quadrimaculata – Four Spotted Skimmer The Alaskan State Insect Dragonflies and their close relatives, Damselflies, come in a dazzling array of colors and patterns, ranging in size from less than an inch long up to the South American Megaloprepus caerulatus with a wingspan of over 7 inches. The largest dragonfly we know of is from the 300 million year old fossil Meganeura that had a wingspan of over 2 feet. Dragonflies are powerful hunters, both in their nymph and adult stages.

Dragonfly nymphs are aquatic and prey on any animal or insect they can grab with their claws or their extendible jaws. Insects, small fish, tadpoles, and small amphibians are all food for these voracious predators. The nymphs are large, and, in turn, are prey for a wide range of other animals, insects, birds, and fish. Elva Paulson has some wonderful watercolors of a dragonfly emerging from its nymph stage. Humans are included as predators, many Asian cultures eating both dragonfly nymphs and adult dragonflies as delicacies. One of the most tasty things I’ve eaten (from a long list of foods most people would consider to be unusual) was a plate of deep fried dragonfly larvae. Absolutely delicious. In Beijing I would sometimes find adult dragonflies candied in liquid sugar, their wings crispy with the hardened sugar. Unknown green dragonfly – note the barbs on the forelegs for catching prey The adult phase of a dragonfly’s life is short, in temperate climates only the length of the summer. This is their mating stage and it takes them between 2 months and 6 years living under water to reach this stage. Dragonflies are extremely active during this mating phase and must eat often.

They have enormous eyes giving nearly 360 vision, incredibly swift reactions, fast, powerful flight, and wicked barbs on their legs to assist capturing insects in flight. The inset above shows these barbs. Libellula exusta – White Corporal (I think) eating its prey The common names of dragonflies often reflect their speed or their abilities as hunters. Meadow-hawk is one of my favorite names, and watching one dart away to catch an insect and return to its roost to devour it definitely brings hawks to mind. Libellula quadrimaculata – Four Spotted Skimmer note the different wing heights Dragonflies are powerful fliers. They have been clocked at over 35 miles an hour, fast enough to get a speeding ticket in a school zone, and, like hummingbirds, can fly forwards, backwards, sideways, up and down, and hover. Their backs are sloped where their wings anchor, placing each pair at different heights, allowing for tremendous wing mobility. Some species of dragonfly migrate, but the scale of some of those migrations has only recently been realized.

One dragonfly species in particular, the Globe Skimmer (Pantala flavescens) flies from India to Africa and back , island hopping cross the Indian Ocean, making open water crossings of nearly 1000km (620 miles) between island stops. The only places they can breed are at the Indian and African ends of the migration, many of the islands they use as stopover points do not have sufficient freshwater for dragonflies to breed. This is a stunning feat of flying for an insect and may be a behavior that evolved as a result of plate tectonics splitting India and Africa apart, eventually thrusting India into Asia. If so, this migration could have begun 135 millions years ago. Unfortunately, we have no reliable way of telling if this is the case. Last year was a good year for dragonflies in Vermont, and this year looks like it is shaping up to be a good one as well. The ecologist in me cannot help wondering why and one idea is that it may be linked to the calamitous drop in bat populations as a result of white-nose disease, a fungus that infects hibernating bats, weakening and eventually killing them.

It may be that adult dragonflies have more to eat with fewer bats and a greater percentage of them are surviving through the summer. There is a historical precedent for this sort of boom in insect populations. During the Great Leap Forward, Chairman Mao promoted a policy of killing off all things he thought were eating grain, birds amongst these. With the crash in bird populations in China the insect population exploded. Unidentified dragonfly – maybe a Darner of some sort I am happy to see the dragonflies here. Their presence means that the water is clean, we will have fewer mosquitoes, midges, and black-flies, and they are extraordinarily beautiful creatures. Three-hundred twenty-five millions years old and going strong. They have it figured out!

Question: Devils darning needle is sometimes the nickname for which flying insect
Answer: Dragonfly